On Tuesday, MMi's Phillip Swanson meticulously outlined the pros and cons of Microsoft's freshly unveiled Surface tablet, which by all accounts, heralds Microsoft’s entry into the tablet market - a move that has the potential "to be a legitimate challenger if for no other reason than Microsoft owns over 90% of the personal computing OS market share worldwide."

But in addition to the positive attributes (and no shortage of borrowed ideas from Apple) that underscore the creation, look, and functionality of the Surface tablet, there may be one attribute above all others that will do the most to help Microsoft knock the iPad down a peg or two: the Surface tablet's price.

As of this writing, Microsoft hasn't confirmed what the company's new tablet will cost. But the buzz inside the company suggests that the Surface may tread deep below the surface of where other competitive tablets dwell. In fact, the Surface tablet may not only be priced below the new iPad's introductory level, it could also be priced below the Amazon Kindle Fire, which presently retails for just $199.

Microsoft's long anticipated foray into tablet territory was believed to have been the chief motivator for Apple to create a so-called iPad Mini, which some analysts believe could be announced this fall and similarly be priced at or below $199. If so, Microsoft will have a much harder time gaining traction against Apple in this arena.

The idea of the keyboard on the cover is excellent, and if it runs Office it has already a significant advantage over the ipad. I only wish the lighter and thinner model would also feature the wacom pen, as I find that drawing with ipad pens to be very bad.

I love when people talk out their ***. MACs get viruses as well. Reason being till recent years MAC has been way below the radar of main stream users choice of computer. Kinda happens when M$ has 90% market share on OS, you become a target.

Why is everyone so persistent on bashing the tablets and windows about viruses? The funny thing on my sony vaio lap top that I have had for a couple years now has not had a single virus... And I don't run any type of virus scanner or anything like norton or mcaffee or anything. Because .. Ohhhh that's right I don't do things I shouldn't be doing. I browse the web constantly and download .. Many things not going into specifics but it's not the computer it's the user!!!

they have to price low atm. because most tablet users have probably settled for an iPad by now a $500 investment. the average person isn't willing to spend over 200-300 on a new tablet after buying an iPad. heck most wont even buy one because they already bot an iPad. It will take years for microsoft to make a better impression but this was a good release date considering apple just kicked out the iPad 1s from updates. So iPad one users will be looking for a new option and a microsoft tablet for much cheaper will do fine.

the disadvantage for microsoft is that they have to get users that have already purchased a tablet. So the best thing to do is to get users that haven't purchased or want a new tablet from the iPad 1/2. And a cheaper price appeals a lot more to them because most who haven't purchased don't want to spend that much money.

Why is everyone so persistent on bashing the tablets and windows about viruses? The funny thing on my sony vaio lap top that I have had for a couple years now has not had a single virus... And I don't run any type of virus scanner or anything like norton or mcaffee or anything. Because .. Ohhhh that's right I don't do things I shouldn't be doing. I browse the web constantly and download .. Many things not going into specifics but it's not the computer it's the user!!!

in all fairness how do you know if you don't run anti virus? browsing the web alone, opening an email alone, can give you a virus. Yes OSX are not virus proof because ultimately you still have root access.. But in order to even give the option to install to your root you have to put in your password (not just click an "ok" button). Most of OSX run in a sandbox, leaving root access out of the picture.

I mean there is no point of denying virus's on a PC it happens very often.

OMG this is great! The only problem is that this little baby runs Windows... take that away and you have yourself a real winner. And by all that I meant... sarcasm, sarcasm, sarcasm... blah blah blah... sarcasm.

in all fairness how do you know if you don't run anti virus? browsing the web alone, opening an email alone, can give you a virus. Yes OSX are not virus proof because ultimately you still have root access.. But in order to even give the option to install to your root you have to put in your password (not just click an "ok" button). Most of OSX run in a sandbox, leaving root access out of the picture.

I mean there is no point of denying virus's on a PC it happens very often.

Only idiots who click on links from junk mail from random people they don't know get virus or spyware. Web browsing gets viruses? If you stay clear from porn sites or illegal software sites you should be clear. The Internet is safer than you think. It's the user that makes the errors. One of my laptops ran without a antivirus for years and I never caught a single thing.

They let the cat out of the bag. Now all of their competition(Apple included) can start thinking of even better ideas for their iPad. Very foolish move but expected is suppose. I could care less about native this and that as there is "an app for that" hahahaha! Time will tell in the meantime let the games begin!